Children's Home run by John-Edwards Care Homes Limited in Swindon

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC437171 1 SC437171

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John-Edwards Care Homes Limited

Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home provides care for up to five children who may have learning and physical disabilities. The home offers long-term care for some children and a short-break service for others. At the time of this visit, three children were living in the home and one child was receiving a short break.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since July 2022.

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This monitoring visit

This home was judged inadequate at the full inspection on 12 and 13 October 2022. At that inspection, shortfalls were identified in safeguarding and restraint practices, staff’s interactions with children, children’s plans and records, the quality of the environment and the leadership and management of the home. Following the inspection, six requirements and one recommendation were made.

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This monitoring visit

At this visit, it was assessed that effective action has been taken to meet three of the requirements and the recommendation. Progress has been made in the remaining requirements, but this work is not yet completed.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have reviewed safeguarding and whistle-blowing practices. Staff have been retrained and received additional training. Safeguarding systems have been reviewed and improved to ensure that all the required information and actions are recorded appropriately. Since the previous inspection, there have been no safeguarding events so the effectiveness of this work cannot yet be tested.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have reviewed children’s records, including care and health plans. These plans are now up to date, reflect children’s needs and provide clear guidance for staff. More work is taking place regarding the use of walking harnesses and deprivation of liberty safeguards. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC437171 2 A new system for tracking and recording children’s health appointments has been implemented. Records now provide evidence of health appointments attended, the outcome of these appointments and that children’s health needs are being addressed.

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This monitoring visit

The quality of the environment has improved. The home is clean and tidy throughout. Children now benefit from living in a pleasant home.

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This monitoring visit

Staff were seen positively interacting with children. There was a relaxed and happy atmosphere at the home, which the children were seen to enjoy.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have reviewed and improved the assessment process of matching new children to the home. Since the previous inspection, there have been no new children so it is not yet possible to determine the effectiveness of these improvements.

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This monitoring visit

Staff morale has improved since the previous inspection. Leaders and managers consulted with staff about the team dynamics and on staff retention and development.

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This monitoring visit

Staff recruitment remains ongoing. Since the previous inspection, two new members of staff have been recruited.

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This monitoring visit

Staff rotas require further improvement as they do not consistently demonstrate who is on duty. This means that it is not possible to evidence if children’s commissioned staffing levels have been consistently adhered to in practice.

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This monitoring visit

The quality of staff supervision has improved. However, further improvement is required to ensure that this is an effective tool for the development and support of staff, including when risk assessments are required. Some supervisors have undergone additional training to support this improvement.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers are now ensuring that any agency staff who work at the home have been subject to safer recruitment practices.

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This monitoring visit

Overall, the quality and effectiveness of the manager’s monitoring have improved. Ongoing discussions are taking place with the home’s independent visitor regarding their role. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC437171 3

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 12/10/2022 Full Inadequate 20/04/2021 Full Good 12/11/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good 31/07/2019 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC437171 4

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet the Care Standards Act 2000, Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’. The registered person(s) must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies;

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Requirement Due date

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm;

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Requirement Due date

that the effectiveness of the home’s child protection policies is monitored regularly. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii)(b)(e)) 24 January 2023 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC437171 5 The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child;

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Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(c)(d)(e)(f)(h)) 24 January 2023

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Requirement Due date

Restraint in relation to a child is only permitted for the purpose of preventing—

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Requirement Due date

injury to any person (including the child).

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Requirement Due date

Restraint in relation to a child must be necessary and proportionate. (Regulation 20 (1)(a) (2))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that the use of restrictive equipment, such as walking harnesses, is detailed in the child’s plans and is subject to a deprivation of liberty safeguards procedure. In addition, competency assessment must be carried out to 24 January 2023 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC437171 6 assess the ability of a child to give their consent to any restrictive practices. These assessments must be subject to regular review.

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC437171 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: John-Edwards Care Homes Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 1 Suffolk Way, Sevenoaks TN13 1YL

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Suzanne Champion

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Inspectors

Wendy Anderson, Social Care Inspector Martin Brown, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC437171 8 to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children’s social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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